KS3 and KS4 English at HHELC Secondary Pathways

Intent

• Our curriculum is flexible, personalised and designed to enable pupils to progress to the next stage on their educational journey.
• All topics in KS3 are guided by the KS3 National Curriculum English Programmes of Study and the AQA GCSE curriculum and the skills needed to move towards GCSE study.
• All students will develop an appreciation and love of reading. They will read increasingly challenging material throughout their time at HHELC.
• Students will be supported in their reading and comprehension skills as well as spelling, punctuation and grammar.
• Students will study extracts from texts and whole texts (pre and post 1914) and understand themes, characterisation, language, form and structure.
• Students will be supported to learn skills for effective speaking and listening through structured discussions; questions to clarify; building on the contributions of others and evaluating different viewpoints.
• Pupils will be introduced to Shakespeare and his works, with a focus on the conventions of comedy and tragedy.

Implementation

• Students are taught by subject specialists.
• Most students are entered for AQA GCSE English Language; many are entered for AQA GCSE English Literature. In addition, Functional Skills qualifications are offered from Entry Level 3 to Level 2, depending on a student’s personal circumstances.
• Progress testing occurs on entry, in which reading and spelling capabilities are determined for all students. Appropriate literacy interventions can then be implemented.
• English teachers routinely check students’ understanding of topics throughout the course of study. Starter activities as well as whiteboard tasks are recurrently used to ascertain knowledge and misconceptions. Teachers employ engaging and impactful questioning techniques and the use of quality feedback (written and/ or verbal).
• Students will have access to high quality extra curricular activities (e.g. Y10 trip to Newstead Abbey/ NLT Young Nottingham Poets/ Nottingham Playhouse ‘Shine’ drama group and theatre visits)

Impact

• To enable all students to make progress in English from their individual starting points, and to experience success in learning.
• Results at GCSE continue to show that achievement and progress in English are high and the vast majority of students go on to achieve the grades needed to commence their college qualifications.
• Internal monitoring of students plays a key role as teachers are able to closely track the progress of their students and intervene where necessary.
• English teachers foster an enjoyment and curiosity of the subject. They continue to place particular emphasis on selecting the very best texts to engage and interest our students, keeping abreast of new releases as well as new technologies (e.g. Listening Books).
• Moderation takes place at both key stages, ensuring consistency of marking across the school and quality assuring the work that is scrutinised.